Arlo|Smart Home Security|Wireless HD Security Cameras

Real World Updates On Geofencing?

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geno404
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I just activated the Geofencing feature on my Arlo cameras that we purchased last year.  I was surprised after activating them to learn that the Arlo app had to be running on the phone...which led me to a question that has been discussed on here..and another that I don't see.   It doesn't look like any of these have been updated lately..  Advance apologies if they've been asked and I've overlooked them.  

 

First off, the battery issue...what is the 'real world' experience in terms of battery drain on my I-Phone 6s.  The phone is 2 1/2 years old...has adequate...but not as good as original...battery life.   Is the constant pinging that might be necessary during my 74 mile round trip daily commute going to be the 'death star' for my elderly battery? 

 

Second is the issue of data.  Our shared data plan ends up very close to the limit each month, so there's not a lot of 'headroom' for an app that's a data hog. I know that video kills data quickly, pictures eat a lot, audio less so, messages and texts less so, but I haven't a clue as to the amount of data that's used each time the phone updates Arlo as to its location?  Is there with a 'real world' estimate of how much incremental data Arlo's geofencing is going to eat up across two phones in an average month?  

 

Real world consideration on data...I'm a 'moving target' for at least 90 minutes a day commuting and in my travels as a sales person so I don't have the luxury of being in wifi as much as others might. 

 

I like the wi-fi idea that's been discussed.  Yes, it would arm the system when I cut the grass and got furthest from the house, then disarm it when I cut the grass closer to the house, but if there's no one in the house, I don't see the harm in that.  Imperfect, but it seems like a far more acceptable trade off than the potential battery and data issues?   Or you could just leave the phone in the house while you cut the grass and it would keep the system disarmed? 

 

I love the theory of the geofencing feature...just trying to figure out if it's practical at all to use it.   Thanks in advance! 

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TomMac
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If you phone battery is near the end of it's life there's not much you can do ( usu about 3 yrs on these things ).. the app needs to run in background but it's prob the GPS on thats draining you battery more. ( not to mention data usage )

 

The only other choice that you can do ( other than a new battery and/ or keeping plugged in while in car ) is to manually arm and disarm or run a schedule if it fits your movements during day.... less drain on phone and still works

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